• Die-cast metal.
• Superb detailing in 1/72 scale.
• Pre-painted with pad applied markings.
• Fully assembled.
• Comes with crew figures
• Display stand included.
• Option to display model with wheels up or down.
• Minimum use of plastic.

During the 1980s General Dynamics, the developer of the F-16, proposed another
version of the F-16 called the F-16 Agile Falcon. The US military opted not to get involved
because they were busy upgrading their present fleet as well as developing the new F-
22/JSF. Japan had decided to purchase the F-16 to replace its aging F-1 aircraft but then
decided to develop the F-16 Agile Falcon concept. The new aircraft for the JASDF (Japan
Air Self Defense Force) would be the F-2 and manufactured with a 60/40 split between
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin bought General
Dynamics in 1993. Production started in 1996 with the first aircraft being delivered in
2000. 94 of the F-2 aircraft are scheduled to be manufactured. It might look like an F-16
but the Mitsubishi F-2 is a completely new fighter. The general shape may say F-16 and a
few things that the F-2 and the F-16 have common are the engine, landing gear, air
intake door and the 20 mm gun. But the F-2 has a longer and wider nose to
accommodate phased-array radar with 25% larger wing. It is made from a composite
material to reduce weight and radar signature, a larger tail plane and larger air intake.
The pilot canopy is a stronger three-piece construction. The F-2 is equipped with a
drogue chute just like the NATO version of the F-16. The single seat fighter is the F-2A
while the two seat version is a trainer that is fully combat capable. As part of the Northern
Air Defense Force the 3rd AW is located at Misawa Air Base. The AW is comprised of the
3rd and 8th Squadrons. The 3rd Squadron was the first to receive the F-2 in 2001.

In the early 1980s the Japanese Defense Ministry’s Technical Research and
Development Institute (TRDI) and the Air Development and Test Wing (ADTW) began the
project known as FS-X. The project was to develop a made in Japan fighter to replace
their aging Mitsubishi F-1. It was finally decided to make a derivative of the F-16C using
subcontractors. Construction began in 1993 with the first single-seat FS-X prototype
serial number 63-0001 being completed January 12, 1995. In 1996 the FS-X designation
was changed to XF-2A and in December 1997 the TRDI serial was changed to JASDF
serial 63-8501 c/n 1001.